Robbery Update

I had to come to the credit union at 7 a.m. today for our quarterly robbery training. A cop from the robbery division came to the meeting. He said that the guy who robbed us in July [click here for that story] has been caught and will be facing a life sentence.

One of my bosses asked if we could see a picture of the robber. He said, "Nah, you wouldn't want a see a picture of that guy."

"Yeah, actually we really would," she replied.

"No, you wouldn't."

I can understand if he couldn't show us the picture because it was part of the evidence or something, but if that's the case I would rather that he say, "I can't show you the picture." Of course after somebody comes in and robs you at gunpoint you're going to want to see who it was. I think that was his way of being a tough cop. My dream is to someday become tough, so I can then fulfill my dream of being a tough cop.

A Swing and a Miss

Shot down again. I guess my tough decision as to whether or not I should take the job at Snapp Norris was made for me. I received the following email yesterday:

Spencer,

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to get to know you and interview you for our Jr. PR associate position. We have been able to fill the position. It was actually a tight decision because of your experience and skills. We wish you the best in your endeavors and appreciate the time you spent with us.

Best Regards,

David

As Enimem says, "Back to the lab again." [my words, not David's. I wish he would have said that. It would have given me so much more respect for their company]

And Out of the Dungeon...Sunshine!

Oh, the unexpected excitements of work.

I work in the basement of Salt Lake Community College. No windows, no cell phone reception and very little light (for some reason people in marketing prefer lamps to overhead lighting). But lo, yesterday I escaped into the daylight.

Daylight was a lot colder than I remembered. I had an appointment to meet with the head of the College's grounds crew to talk about the new drought-tolerant flowers and plants at the campus. I told him I would come to his office, thinking I knew where the Facilities Compound was.

After walking to one side of campus in the cold afternoon and wandering around through a bunch of empty portable classrooms trying to find the Grounds office, I was told that I was on the entirely wrong side of campus.

When I finally found the right location I was cheerily greeted by a big dude named Justin Wiker. After talking about the new plants I was able to have a dream fulfilled. I got to ride around in a little maintenance buggy! You know those little cars that are always running you off the sidewalk when you're trying to get to class? "Beep, beep! Get out of the way, mere mortals, I'm in a maintenance buggy!"

Justin cruised us around the campus, showing me all of the different plants. It's pretty cold, driving around in a little car that doesn't have a windshield or windows and the thing went faster than you'd think.

"Have you ever run anybody over in this thing?" I asked.

"No, but I've had some close calls."

"Ever tipped it over?"

He looked and smiled.

I was on top of the world. I was the big man on campus. I was in the maintenance buggy!

Worry Rock II

this is what working is like when you're super hip.

Job Update: When I left my interview at SNG, I was told that they would be getting back to me shortly. I didn't know it would be three hours later.

At 8:45 p.m. I realized that SNG had left me a message two hours earlier. I listened to the message and the dude said that he wanted to meet with me today. I figured that was a good sign: two interviews in two days.

However, this made me nervous because, you know, I'm even scared when good things happen. Now I had to start worrying, which caused me to not be able to concentrate on "The Apprentice," which really made me mad.

I returned the phone call during a commercial and left a message saying that the only option for meeting would be before 9:30 a.m., when I needed to be at the credit union. (I couldn't go during my lunch break because I had a lunch date set with my SLCC coworker Kristy and her husband, who happens to work at the SL Tribune. On my message I said, "I'm already meeting with the Tribune during my lunch break." I thought that would make me sound more valuable.) I received a response at 10:45 p.m. saying they'd love to see me at 9 a.m.

So I made another trip out to Draper this morning. I met with the Norris half of the Snapp Norris Group. It went well, but I am still just as confused about whether or not I should take the job. Very confused.

My lunch with Kristy and Brandon randomly turned into a meeting with Kristy, Brandon and the entire institutional marketing department. I don't know how that happened, but whatever.

Pista!

I bought a few DVDs while I was in Holland, one of which was "Pista!" the winter version of "Costa!" Since I had already seen the latter, I knew what I was getting into when I saw the former.

The story was pretty dumb. But I would have to say, it was kind of "Saved by the Bell" dumb--you know, you realize it's lame, but you secretly still like it.

The group of friends are about to head back to Holland after a busy summer of working at a club in Spain. Right before they head out, they find out that Tommy's grandpa needs help running his bar at a ski resort in France. Here's when the show really gets good. Here's some highlights:

1. Even though the friends go to a ski resort, they keep wearing the same clothes--bikini tops, shorts, tank tops, etc. Not a bad way to go skiing.

2. The cool snowboarder that moves in on Tommy's girlfriend is wearing a red, full body ski suit straight out of 80s ski movies. He's so bad!

3. Everyone in France just happens to be Dutch!

4. I really liked that the one black guy in the movie (a dude from Suriname), though speaking Dutch, periodically in says in English "Damn!" just like movies here in the States. Stereotypes are great.

Some may tease, but I loved it. Loved every minute of it! I may just watch it again tonight!

Worry Rock

I have returned from my job interview. I think that overall it went well. I was laughing to myself about the company's website, thinking that it looks just like everyone's site these days--super modern offices with super modern, hip, good looking people working in them. I think it's funny because real offices don't look like that. I now stand corrected. I walked in the front door and it was like I had just wanted into the website. I looked around and saw glass desks, lots of modern art and the ceiling that's just airconditioning piping and can lights. The only thing it was missing was the hip folks.

There seemed to be a lack of folks in general. I met with David, the interviewer, and he informed me that the company only had 12 employees and the majority them were off at a client pitch.

The interview went well, I think. Though I certainly failed when I was asked what technology magazines I read. My response: "None." It was an honest answer. (Lying wasn't a great options, inasmuch as I don't even know the name of any technology magazines)

I guess they'll call if they liked me. I'm not sure if this is somewhere I'd like to work if I was offered a job. I am always nervous to start something new, but I don't think that is a good enough excuse to hide from a new job.

Careful What You Wish For...

I've been really bummed out about my job situation lately. I've been looking for a job since I graduated in May. I was very happy when the community college extended an offer for me to switch from part time in the public relations department to full time in marketing. That was August. It is now almost the end of November and that position has yet to be posted. I have been sending out resumes to different places periodically, but in the last few days I have decided that I can't just wait around forever for a job that may never really happen.

I sent out a wave of resumes on Tuesday and got a call back from the Snapp Norris Group, a public relations firm in Draper, yesterday. They asked me for an interview today at 2 p.m. Of course my first reaction is to totally freak out and be nervous and have to worry about whether I am going to choose the right path if this leads to a fork in the road. I have spent so much time hoping for a new job that I am really nervous about the prospect of actually getting one.

So, I have two and a half hours to be stressed out and then everything will go right back to where it was before.

Yummmm...Virgin Mary Sandwich

Now's your chance to buy a Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich on Ebay! Hurry, the auction ends soon!

Alkaline Trio

After having a discussion with my homeboy, Rhett, about the decline of rock music I decided to make a list of Alkaline Trio from best to worst. Here we go:

1. Go****nit!
2. From Here to Infirmary
3. Self-titled (the singles collection)
4. Good Mourning
5. Maybe I'll Catch Fire

Eminem - Encore

Eminem
Encore

All of the usual characters are back for Eminem’s latest full-length Encore– Kim, Hailie, Em’s mom Debbie, the dad he never knew and of course Dr. Dre.  New characters include his current or recent beefs – Benzino, Ja Rule and George Bush – and his guest appearances from his cash cow, 50 Cent.  

Eminem also brings back his apparently endless struggle between goofy Slim Shady and the overdramatic Marshal Mathers.  On Em’s last record The Eminem Show, he said, “People don’t want Marshal no more, they want Shady, I’m chopped liver.”  The success of 8 Mile and his grammy-winning “Just Lose Yourself” changed that.  Suddenly, Eminem wasn’t the foolish, sexist, homophobe that everyone loved to hate.  He was the media darling who was making serious music that everyone couldn’t help but love. 

He tries to change that on this record.  The ridiculous first single “Just Lose It” pokes fun at the easiest of all targets – Michael Jackson and Pee Wee Herman.   Eminem also goes to great lengths to prove he still is a homophobe.  The great disappointment of this album isn’t that Eminem refuses to grow up, it’s that the Slim Shady character’s immaturity bleeds over into possibly-really-good Marshal tracks such as “My First Single” and “Puke.” 

Eminem is at his best when he finds middle ground between the two characters.  Far and away the best track of the album “Encore,” combines catchy beats with a serious rap style.  It also proves that Dr. Dre still drops hits and that while featuring 50 Cent in a song gets airplay, it doesn’t really make the song much better. 

Only a few album tracks made it on to my iPod:

Evil Deeds, Yellowbrick Road, Like Toy Soldiers, One Shot Two Shot, Mockingbird, Encore. 

Running Frightened Away from the Village

In a rare act of spontaneity, Traci and I decided to take in a 10 o’clock dollar movie last night. I wanted to go see “The Bourne Supremacy” again, but Traci opted for something new. By process of elimination we ended up at “The Village.”

I’ll start by saying this: worst movie ever! For all of you out there that think M. Night Shyamalan is the greatest, I feel compelled to tell you that you are an idiot. The thought-provoking last five minutes of this movie does not make up for the preceding 115 mind-numbingly boring minutes, filled with slow-moving characters with misplaced accents.

On the upside, Traci and I were the only two people in the theater so it was like we were having our own private viewing. We only spent $3 for two tickets so it’s all good. After watching Judy Greer play Kitty, we went home to watch our Arrested Development DVD where she also plays a character named Kitty—only this character is actually good. Arrested Development, what an insanely funny show.

Old Lady Trapped in Bathroom! Anger Ensues!

One thing about working at a customer service job is that you are often exposed to very interesting experiences. Here's the latest from the credit union:

An old couple (I'm thinking in their 80s) came in a couple of days ago to use their safe deposit box. Before they left the credit union, the wife decided to use the restroom. All I can say is that it's a good thing her husband was with her.

Trying to leave the bathroom, she turned the doorknob. It wouldn't unlock, it just kept spinning. I guess after a few minutes her husband came to check on her. He tried unsuccessfully to help her get the door open before asking for our help. If he wasn't with her I don't know how long she would have been in there before somebody noticed or heard her.

The bank manager and the head teller were now over there trying to get the door open. Nothing. The next thing I hear is, "We've called the fire department and they'll be here is just a few minutes. Hang in there."

The fire department did in fact show up. I bet they love it when they get calls like "We've got a lady stuck in the bathroom here." Since the hinges of the door are on the inside they had no choice but to tear off the frame around the door to get the door off. The lady had been in there for about an hour before she was set free. The first thing she said after liberation was, "I'm never coming back here again!" Who could blame her?

"I think I could get in less trouble where I'm from"

It wasn't until last night that I realized that my life was missing something--bad teenage drama. Fortunately, The O.C. is back and just as over-the-top and unrealistic as ever. Loved it!

I was happy that Luke was back, though I fear it was a one episode deal. I was even more happy that Marissa is apparently even more crazy than last season.

Let me just say this--I know the acting is bad and that the plots are dumb, but hey, it's still fun to watch. In my opinion, a good show is one that forces you to yell at the TV, and The O.C. causes me to do a lot of that. Example dialogue between me and the TV, "Julie Cooper, duh! Of course Marissa doesn't want to talk to you! You slept with her boyfriend, remember?"

It sure was convenient that Ryan got let off the hook with Theresa's baby just by getting one visit from Sandy Kohen. What's up with that? I still think it's Eddie's baby, anyway.

The O.C. and The Apprentice on Thursday nights--is there any reason to leave the house?

Guess who's back, back again...

I feel like I have been out of the blogging game for ages. We have safely returned home from a wonderful trip to London and are now relunctly getting back into the swing of regular life. What a drag.

I am now a first-time presidential voter. I got a little bit nervous yesterday. Though casting a vote for president in Utah is a bit futile either way, it was an exciting experience. I can tell that I am getting old and boring because I spent a major of the evening watching the polls--talk about an uninteresting form of entertainment. Fortunately, the O.C. premiere is on tomorrow night and my faith in television will be renewed.

The vacation is over, the elections are over, winter has come to Utah and the holidays are right around the corner. I guess the only thing to look forward to besides the O.C. is Strung Out coming to town. I am feeling ripped off because Bad Religion is playing Denver and Las Vegas next week and conveniently skipping over Salt Lake. Not cool.

Stung Out - Exile in Oblivion

Strung Out
Exile in Oblivion

First of all, Strung Out is the real deal. With their latest release, Exile in Oblivion, the So Cal veterans show the kids what punk music is all about. It's fast, hard, violent, political, angry.

Exile demonstrates that Strung Out are great at channeling their split personality, delivering melodic pop songs like "Swan Dive" one minute and then pulverizing listeners with hardcore rants like "Katatonia" the next.

While many early-90s punk units have disbanded (Face to Face) or have simply succumb to putting out sub-par records (Pennywise), Strung Out have taken a different approach. They don't tour endlessly and they taken a bit more time between releases. The result is songs that sound-if not exactly new-relevant, passionate and powerful.

Exile is strong from beginning to end, with less poppy tracks than the usual Strung Out record. However, "Anna Lee" and "The Misanthropic Effect" do fall into the sing-along category. "Analog" and "Blueprint of the Fall" give Strung Out fans everything they need.

Thank you, Strung Out, for again putting an album out that we can't listen to while our mother is in the car.

THE SKINNY: Hooray for Punk Rock Violence

Styrofoam - Nothing's Lost

Styrofoam 

nothing's lost 

Apparently Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard can't get enough of working with electronic artists. 

After doing The Postal Service he co-wrote three songs for Styrofoam's (Belgian DJ Arne van Petegem) fourth album nothing's lost. 

Because The Postal Service was so good I decided I better check out Styrofoam. I am very happy that I did. 

Nothing's Lost is 42 minutes of dreaming and floating. The real strength of the album is the seamlessness of the arrangements. Though there are different vocalists on almost each track, they are all similar enough that you don't even notice. More importantly, none of them try to steal the show. 

The vocals blend in so well that they became just another instrument in the mosaic of sound. About half way through the record, Van Petegem reaches soaring altitude and never comes back down. He dips from the disco-love of Andrew Kenny's vocals on "Front to Back," down to the hypnotic "Safe + Broken" and back up again to the poppy "Anything." 

This album is perfect for those times when you just want to check out of reality for a little while.